70 Survival Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas

Survival stories are about more than just staying alive — they reveal character, test morality, and force people to face their deepest fears. From classic texts like Lord of the Flies and Hatchet to dystopian survival tales like The Hunger Games, this genre has always captured the imagination of teens. Survival fiction thrives on high stakes and tough choices: who do you trust, what do you risk, and how far will you go to endure?

This collection of 70 survival writing prompts is designed for teen writers who want to explore the raw edge of human experience. Inside you’ll find plot hooks, title ideas, opening and closing lines, character sketches, atmospheric settings, and picture prompts. Perfect for classrooms, clubs, or solo writers, these prompts balance realistic scenarios with imaginative “what ifs” to spark creativity all year round.

1. Plot Hooks

Survival stories need an urgent, dramatic situation to pull readers in. These hooks drop characters into dangerous worlds where every choice matters:

1. Write about a group of teens stranded on an island after a plane crash.

2. Write about a hiker who realises their compass always points toward danger.

3. Write about a storm that cuts off an entire town from the outside world.

4. Write about a group of strangers trapped underground after a cave-in.

5. Write about a disease sweeping through a research station in Antarctica.

6. Write about a shipwreck survivor who washes up on an island already inhabited.

7. Write about a wildfire forcing a community to flee, but the roads are blocked.

8. Write about an earthquake that destroys all communication and transport.

9. Write about two rivals who must work together to survive a disaster.

10. Write about someone who wakes in the wilderness with no memory of how they got there.

2. Title Ideas

Titles set the tone — sharp, urgent, and sometimes ominous. These capture the spirit of survival:

1. Ashes and Embers

2. The Last Signal

3. Edge of Nowhere

4. Beneath the Wreckage

5. When the Sky Fell

6. The Forgotten Fire

7. One Match Left

8. Buried Voices

9. A World Without Maps

10. The Longest Night

3. Opening Lines

Survival fiction hooks readers instantly with atmosphere and urgency. These openings pull you straight into danger:

1. “The first scream was carried away by the wind.”

2. “We thought the fire was far away — until the smoke filled our lungs.”

3. “The raft cracked in half, and we were thrown into the waves.”

4. “The forest was silent. Too silent.”

5. “The storm tore the roof from the cabin before we could reach the door.”

6. “We had food for three days, but no way out.”

7. “The avalanche swallowed the camp in seconds.”

8. “I hadn’t spoken to my brother in weeks, but now he was the only person I could trust.”

9. “The radio hissed once, then died.”

10. “I knew we weren’t alone in the woods.”

4. Closing Lines

Endings in survival stories can be triumphant, haunting, or unresolved. These closers leave readers with impact:

1. “We were safe, but we weren’t the same.”

2. “The last fire burned out, and with it, the past.”

3. “They called us heroes, but I knew better.”

4. “I never thought survival would feel like this.”

5. “The rescue boat arrived, but I didn’t wave.”

6. “We buried the map — no one else should find this place.”

7. “Our footprints faded quickly in the snow.”

8. “The city was gone, but the story wasn’t over.”

9. “We built our own laws, and maybe that was the real danger.”

10. “Survival wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.”

5. Character Ideas

Survival characters are often defined by resilience, conflict, or hidden strength. These ideas explore who survives — and how:

1. A reluctant leader who never wanted responsibility.

2. A sibling pair divided by rivalry but forced to depend on each other.

3. A natural survivalist who is hiding a dark secret.

4. A book-smart character with no practical skills.

5. A bully who crumbles under real pressure.

6. A dreamer who keeps everyone’s hope alive.

7. A lone wolf who has to learn to trust.

8. A coward who becomes unexpectedly brave.

9. A betrayer who risks the group for personal gain.

10. A healer whose compassion may cost lives.

6. Setting Ideas

Survival settings need to be immersive, dangerous, and sometimes beautiful. These locations challenge characters at every turn:

1. A storm-lashed island surrounded by jagged rocks.

2. A frozen wasteland where the sun barely rises.

3. A jungle where every plant and insect could kill you.

4. A mountain cave network with no light and no exit.

5. A desert where the horizon never changes.

6. A flooded city with only rooftops above water.

7. A research base buried under Antarctic snow.

8. A forest scarred by wildfire.

9. A bunker where food is running out.

10. A collapsed building trapping survivors inside.

7. Picture Prompt Ideas

Images can spark stories faster than words. These picture prompt ideas should be more than enough to get creative ideas flowing:

Final Thoughts

Survival fiction pushes characters — and readers — to their limits. These 70 prompts give teens the chance to explore courage, fear, trust, and betrayal in the harshest conditions. Perfect for classrooms studying Lord of the Flies or The Hunger Games, or for individual writers who want to explore high-stakes adventure.

For even more inspiration, don’t forget to explore our Daily Writing Prompts, which offer fresh story starters, opening and closing lines, characters, and settings every single day.